ABSTRACT
Though the legacy of Aldersgate as Wesley’s evangelical conversion appears secure, its legacy has been a minefield of debate among scholars. The primary reason is due to a paradox: whereas the riddle of Aldersgate’s meaning has been due to ambiguities in the textual record, questions over its legacy have been due to clear statements in Wesley’s later writings.
This chapter explores the reasons that Aldersgate was not mentioned in Wesley’s later remarks on the origins of Methodism. It also examines the shifts in his sacramental theology due to the revival. It is found that Aldersgate’s legacy was rooted in Wesley’s concept of free grace, understood as the moment when God exerted transformative power in his life. By drawing on Wesley’s descriptions of the new birth, a deeper understanding begins to emerge regarding the depth of change he felt on 24 May 1738. In the end, Aldersgate remains a witness to the power of free grace to transform a person's life.
